GLOSSARY

Glossary

Unit consisting of a non-reusable metal, glass, or plastic recipient that contains a gas which is compressed, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure with or without liquid, paste or powder; with a discharge device that allows the contents to be released from the container as solid or liquid particles suspended in a gas in the form of foam, paste, powder, or in a liquid state.

1.2 Aerosol

A colloidal suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas.

1.3 Container Materials

They can be made of aluminum, tin, glass, and plastic.

1.4 Test Pressure

Pressure that an unfilled aerosol dispenser container may be subjected to for 25 seconds without any leakage occurring or, in the case of metal or plastic containers, any visible or permanent distortion.

1.5 Burst Test

Minimum pressure required to cause the aerosol dispenser to leak or burst open.

1.6 Corrosion

Physico-chemical process produced by chemical reaction of its components, attacking the container wall and/or valve, and producing or potentially producing the perforation of both.

1.7 Traceability

Ability to provide recorded information on the various processes in component manufacturing, packaging, storage, and transportation of the aerosol product, in addition to any other aspects concerning its creation, monitoring and distribution.

1.8 Discharge

Expelling of product from container. Known as spray when particles are very fine and foam when particles form a thick, frothy substance.

1.9 Spray pattern

Pattern shape that the product forms when sprayed against a flat, usually porous surface. Serves in identifying efficacy when determining certain product qualities.

1.10 Spray rate

Quantity of product expelled during a given time. Serves in identifying the performance and duration of the aerosol. Pressure to which the inside the container is subjected, when closed and containing a compressed or dissolved liquefied propellant. Physical element which allows the contents to be expelled from the container.

1.11 Pressure Filling Packaging

Propellant is introduced in the aerosol container through the already closed valve. Usually liquefied propellants.

1.12 Impact Filling Packaging

Compressed propellants are introduced through the valve. Its technology is complex and requires further studies regarding compatibility and dilution of the propellant in the product.

1.13 Flammability

Ability of product and propellant to ignite upon release. Its scale and measuring characteristics are determined by FEA standards 608, 609, and 610.

1.14 Compatibility

Affinity between aerosol materials and components which enables aerosols to have a normal shelf life of more than three years.

1.15 Solubility

Affinity between materials which enables their homogenous mixture.

1.16 Manufacturer

Company that owns the trademark rights to the product and holds primary control of its manufacturing. It is responsible to administrations for placing the product on the market, as well as for the quality and any consequences of anomalies that may occur in the normal shelf life of the product.

1.17 Packager

Company equipped with machinery for packaging aerosol products. It may be the manufacturer; if not, it is known as a third-party packager.

1.18 Distributor

Company that stores and distributes aerosol products to retailers for retail sale. It is responsible for proper storage and transportation.

2.1 Nominal Fill Capacity

Total amount of mass that the receptacle can contain until flush with the top. Specified in ml.

2.2 Contents

Total amount of mass that the receptacle contains, including both materials and propellant. Specified on the outside of the container in ml.

2.3 Deformation

Bulge or fold which is produced in the container as the result of being subjected to a depression or pressure greater than its resistance capacity, without any rupture occurring.

2.4 Breakage

Opening produced in the body of the container resulting from the resistance pressure being exceeded inside of the container. The opening causes the product and propellant to be ejected from the container.

2.5 Leaks

Constant emission of small amounts of propellant and/or product, from the inside outwards, through small defects in the structure of the container. They may have been caused by defects in the manufacturing of the container or valve/container clinch; by chemical damage to the container walls; or by temperature condition changes in container storage.

2.6 Interior Coating

Coating applied to the inside of the container according to the type of product it will contain and which serves as protection from mechanical or chemical interactions between the product and material the container is made of.

2.7 Outer Coating

Coating applied to the outside of the container, after being lithographed or decorated, to protect it from external chemical and mechanical interactions.

2.8 WACO

Equipment for testing conductivity and being able to determine the porosity and permeability of the resin layer applied to the interior walls of the container.

2.9 Bi-Compartmented Packaging

Metal receptacle containing an inner bag or cylinder made of complex material (plastic and aluminum) that separates the container into two compartments: one exclusively reserved for the product and one for the propellant (liquid or compressed).

2.10 Contact Height

Level located at the curvature of the cone or dome, near the container aperture, and spaced according to a measurement that determines the ideal point for correct crimping of the valve. Determined by FEA standard 401.

The diameter of the container unit. Determined by FEA standards 220 and 214.

2.13 Tin Containers

Tin aerosol containers are manufactured from low-carbon tin plated steel, with a layer of tin applied to both sides in continuous electrolytic operation. They usually consist of three components: the body, the dome, and the cone, all of which have the same consistency and metallic finish.

2.14 Tin Container Body

This is the cylindrical wall of the container, produced by rolling a flat sheet of tinplate and applying vertical welding to form the side seam.

2.15 Tin Container Dome

Concave portion attached to the container body through crimping, sealed via an elastic seal, which closes both parts (body and dome).

2.16 Tin Container Cone or Pyramid

Top part of the container with a rounded, flanged opening where the valve is fitted. The cone is attached to the container body through crimping, sealed via an elastic seal, which closes both parts (body and cone).

2.17 Straight-Sided Tin Container

Container in which the crimping of both the dome and the cone forms a ring with a slight contour, adding to the diameter to the body.

2.18 “Necked-In” Tin Container

Container in which the crimping of both the dome and the cone is manufactured without producing an outer ring. The entire container has the same diameter.

3.1 Crimping

Operation which ensures the airtight sealing of the valve to the container. Dimensions determined by FEA standards 222 and 204.

3.2 Dispensing Valve

Valve designed to release predetermined quantities of product.

3.3 One-Shot Valve

Valve designed in such a way that once activated, it remains open until the entire contents of the container are released.

3.4 Vapor Phase Tap (VPT)

An open orifice in the valve stem through which, when upright, only vapor-phase propellant flows. Used to control the way in which of a product with a high propellant vapor content is dispensed.

3.5 Restricted Tail Piece (RTP)

Orifice that regulates the flow of product. The dip tube connects it with the bottom of the container. Usually used in combination with the VPT.

4.1 Propellant Definition

Propellants are chemical agents that provide pressure which allows the contents of an aerosol container to be expelled.

4.2 Propellant Classifications

Liquefied, dissolved, and compressed. Within each category they are distinguished as flammable or nonflammable. Those most frequently used have low toxicity and currently include hydrocarbon mixtures of isobutane, butane and propane (LPG), dimethyl ether (DME), and 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a). The characteristic they all have in common is their flammability, as their low-concentration vapors are highly flammable. Another propellant used in restricted use products is HFC-134a, which is non-flammable. Its use is regulated by EU Directives.

5.1 Primary Area of Ventilation

Interior of the enclosure containing propellant-filling machines and where any flammable vapors which may leak are collected at source.

5.2 Secondary Area of Ventilation
The rest of the structure enclosing the aerosol filling areas where, according to safety standards, the rate of extraction is sufficient to dilute any gas leakage that could occur in containers with leaks or in ancillary systems.

5.3 Gas House
Enclosed area, closed off on the inside and outside, where the aerosol container is filled with propellant.

5.4 Filling Line
General term used to describe the set of machinery and operations used in manufacturing aerosols. These operations range from product filling, gas operation, weight calculation, water bath, actuator button and cap placement, and aerosol packaging.

5.5 Product Packaging
Part of the aerosol manufacturing process in which the formulated product concentrate is filled into the aerosol container.

5.6 Defect Sorting
Ejection from the production line of aerosol containers rejected due to various possible defects. The operation is carried out smoothly and does not produce any impacts or falls that could result in damage to the aerosols.

5.7 Transport Unit
Usually, a palette containing many shrink-wrapped aerosol containers. Can also be in the form of sales units in large cardboard boxes holding dozens of containers.

5.9 Grouping
Any number of aerosols grouped together, shrink-wrapped, and with or without a tray.

5.10 Cross-Check
Set of equipment that provides greater certainty in measurement efficiency. It usually consists of two tests that verify the parameters in question and other closely related parameters within the safety limit.

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AEDA is a non-profit association which brings together the various sectors of Spain’s aerosol industry.